Fastening system for securing a trim panel to a support substrate

ABSTRACT

A fastening system includes a locking pin, a doghouse, including a receiver, and a retainer body held in the receiver. The retainer body includes a retention feature adapted to receive and hold the locking pin. The fastening system is useful in a method of securing a trim component to a door inner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment fieldand, more particularly, to a new and improved fastening system forsecuring a trim panel to a support substrate and, more particularly, forsecuring a door trim panel to a door inner.

BACKGROUND

During a side impact collision event, vehicle lateral intrusion movementmay induce severe deformation to the door sheet metal. A door trim panelattached directly to the door sheet metal via conventional mechanicalfasteners such as plastic clips, pushpins, metal clips or the like maynot be able to overcome the door sheet metal deformation and the doortrim panel may separate away from the door sheet metal toward theoccupant seating position. This separation may adversely affect vehiclelevel performance including, for example, proper side airbag deployment.

This document relates to a new and improved fastening system thatincreases the integrity of the connection between the door trim paneland the support substrate or door inner. Advantageously the enhancedintegrity of this connection functions to counter side impact energy andassociated vehicle lateral intrusion movement caused by side impactwithout performing any intensive body side structure upgrades whichwould, for example, require added B pillar reinforcement, thickened Bpillars, door intrusion beams or the like. While effective, such bodyside structure upgrades do add cost as well as weight to the vehiclewhich adversely impacts vehicle overall fuel economy performance.Advantageously, these drawbacks are avoided by using the new andimproved fastening system which is also completely hidden from view anddoes not detrimentally impact the aesthetic appearance of the door trim.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new andimproved trim fastening system is provided. That fastening system isparticularly adapted for securing a door trim panel to a supportsubstrate such as the door inner of a motor vehicle door.

The fastening system comprises a locking pin, a doghouse including areceiver and a retainer body held in the receiver. The retainer bodyincludes a retention feature adapted to receive and hold the lockingpin.

The retainer body may include a spring clip at a front end. Theretention feature may comprise a locking aperture that receives thelocking pin. That locking aperture may have a first diameter D₁.

The spring clip may include a first cantilever arm and a secondcantilever arm. In addition the retainer body may include a stop at arear end opposite the spring clip at the front end. When the retainerbody is properly seated in the receiver of the doghouse, the spring clipmay engage a first sidewall of the doghouse at a first end of thereceiver and the stop may engage a second sidewall of the doghouse at asecond end of the receiver.

The locking pin may include a seating flange, an anchor end on a supportsubstrate side of the seating flange and a doghouse end on a trimcomponent side of the seating flange. More particularly, the anchor endmay include an enlarged base. The doghouse end may include a head and ashank. The shank may be provided between the head and the seatingflange.

The head may have a second diameter D₂ wherein D₁>D₂. The shank may havea third diameter D₃ wherein D₁>D₂>D₃. When the locking pin is properlysecured in the retainer body, the shank passes through the lockingaperture. In accordance with an additional aspect, a method is providedfor securing a trim component to a door inner. The method comprises thesteps of: (a) securing a locking pin to the door inner, (b) providing adoghouse on the trim component, (c) inserting a retainer body into areceiver in the doghouse and (d) engaging the locking pin with aretention feature of the retainer body.

The method may also include the step of sliding the retainer body in thereceiver so that a shank of the locking pin engages a margin of theretainer body defining the retention feature. Still further, the methodmay include the step of capturing the head of the retention pin with themargin of the retainer body extending around and defining the retentionfeature.

Still further, the inserting step may be performed in a first directionwhile the sliding step may be performed in a second direction whereinthe first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. Theperpendicular relationship between the orientation of the insertingaction and the orientation of the sliding action functions tosubstantially increase the integrity of the connection between thelocking pin and the retainer body and thus, the integrity of theconnection of the door trim panel to the door inner.

In the following description, there are shown and described severalpreferred embodiments of the fastening system and the related method ofsecuring a trim panel component to a door inner. As is should berealized, the fastening system and the related method are capable ofother, different embodiments and their several details are capable ofmodification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from thefastening system and method as set forth and described in the followingclaims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a partof the specification, illustrate several aspects of the fastening systemand the related method and together with the description serve toexplain certain principles thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the locking pin of the new and improvedfastening system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the doghouse of the new and improvedfastening system.

FIGS. 3a-3c are a series of views illustrating how the locking pin isfully connected to the retainer body held in a receiver of the doghousein order to secure a door trim panel to a support substrate or doorinner of a motor vehicle.

More particularly, FIG. 3a illustrates how the head of the locking pinis inserted into the first section of the locking aperture formed in theretainer body. FIG. 3b illustrates the locking pin fully inserted andseated against the doghouse with the shank of the locking pin passingthrough the first section of the locking aperture in the retainer body.FIG. 3c illustrates the release of pressure from the sidewall of thedoor trim component and the resulting sliding movement of the retainerbody leading to the capture of the retention pin in the second sectionof the locking aperture of the retainer body.

FIGS. 4a-4c are cross-sectional views taken along respective lines 4 a-4a, 4 b-4 b and 4 c-4 c as illustrated in respective FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the fastening system and related method of securing atrim component to a door inner of a motor vehicle, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the drawing figures illustrating the improvedfastening system 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening system10 is being utilized to connect a door trim panel or component 12 to asupport substrate or door inner 14 of a motor vehicle. Here it should beappreciated that the fastening system could be utilized for otherapplications if desired.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 a-3 c, the fastening system 10 includesa locking pin 16. The locking pin 16 includes (a) a seating flange 18,(b) an anchor end, generally designated by reference numeral 20, on asupport substrate side of the seating flange and (c) a doghouse end,generally designated by reference numeral 22, on a trim component sideof the seating flange 18. More particularly, the anchor end 20 includesan enlarged base 24. The doghouse end 22 includes a head 26 and a shank28. The shank 28 is situated between the head 26 and the seating flange18.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fastening system 10 also includes adoghouse 30 that may be integrally formed on the B surface 32 of thetrim component 12 adjacent the sidewall 34 of the trim component. Asillustrated, the doghouse 30 includes a receiver 36 having a firstchannel 37 formed between the top wall 41, the rib 43 and the sidewall45. The receiver 36 also includes a second, opposed channel 47 formedbetween the top wall 41, the rib 49 and the sidewall 51. See FIG. 2.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4a-4c , the fastening system 10 alsoincludes a retainer body 42. That retainer body 42 is held in thereceiver 36 of the doghouse 30. The retainer body 42 includes aretention feature, generally designated by reference numeral 44, that isadapted to receive and hold the locking pin 16 in a manner that will bedescribed in greater detail below.

The retainer body 42 includes an integral spring clip 46 at a front endthereof. That spring clip 46 includes a first cantilever arm 48 and asecond cantilever arm 50. The retainer body 42 also includes a stop 52at a rear end thereof. The stop 52 comprises two opposed lugs 54, 56that are curved toward the spring clip 46.

The retainer body 42 is installed in the receiver 36 of the doghouse 30by inserting the spring clip 46 at the front end of the retainer bodyinto the receiver at the first end 38 and pushing the retainer bodyinward through the receiver. The rounded nose 58 of the spring clip 46aids in the insertion. As the retainer body 42 is pushed through thereceiver 36, the opposed first and second cantilever arms 48, 50 foldinward into the spaces 60 thereby allowing the retainer body to be fullyinserted into the receiver.

When the retainer body 42 is fully and properly inserted within thereceiver 36 of the doghouse 30, the lugs 54, 56 of the stop 52 engagethe first end 38 of the doghouse 30. At the same time, the first andsecond cantilever arms 48, 50 spring back outward by resilient memoryand engage the second end 40 of the doghouse. See particularly FIG. 4 c.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retention feature 44 of the retainerbody 42 comprises a locking aperture 62 that is adapted to receive andhold the locking pin 16. The locking aperture 62 has a first diameterD₁.

The head 26 of the locking pin 16 has a second diameter D₂ while theshank 28 of the locking pin has a third diameter D₃ wherein D₁>D₂>D₃. Asdescribed in greater detail below, when the locking pin 16 is properlyseated within and connected to the retainer body 42 in the doghouse 30,the shank 28 of the locking pin engages the margin 76 of the retainerbody 42 that defines the locking aperture 62 as shown in FIGS. 3c and 4c.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 3a-3c and 4a-4c which illustrate anew and improved method of securing a trim component 12 to a door inner14. That method may be broadly described as comprising the steps ofsecuring the locking pin 16 into an aperture 68 in the door inner 14 byinserting and turning the base 24 through the aperture so that themargin 70 of the door inner 14 surrounding the aperture 68 is capturedbetween the resilient base and the seating flange 18.

The method also includes the step of providing the doghouse 30 along theB surface 32 of the trim component 12. More particularly, the doghouse30 may be integrally formed with the trim component 12 if desired.

In addition, the method includes the step of inserting the retainer body42 into the receiver 36 of the doghouse 30 in the manner described aboveand as best shown in FIGS. 4a-4c . Still further, the method includesthe step of engaging the locking pin 16 with the retention feature 44 ofthe retainer body 42. Toward this end, the method includes the step ofinserting the head 26 of the locking pin through the locking aperture62.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3a , this is accomplished by pushing on thesidewall 34 of the trim component 12 at the point and in the directionindicated by action arrow A in FIG. 3a until the first section 64 of thelocking aperture 62 is aligned with the aperture 72 in the top wall 41of the doghouse 30. Next, the trim component 12 is manipulated withrespect to the door inner 14 to align the aperture 68 and the firstsection 64 of the locking aperture 62 with the head 26 of the lockingpin 16 and then moved in the direction of action arrows B toward thedoor inner 14. Locking pin 16 can also be inserted into locking aperture62 without simultaneously pushing sidewall 34 as hole 62 ischamfered/cone-shaped internally. When loading the door trim in thedirection of action arrow Y, the head of locking pin 16, while insertinginto the locking aperture 62 will slide/push the retainer body 42sidewards until the pin head can pass 62.

Upon completion of this movement, the head 26 of the locking pin 16 hasbeen inserted through the aperture 72 in the doghouse 30 and the lockingaperture 62 so that the shank 28 passes through the middle of thelocking aperture as illustrated in FIG. 3 b.

The method then includes the step of sliding the retainer body 42 in thereceiver 36 so that the shank 28 of the locking pin 16 engages themargin 76 of the retainer body that defines the locking aperture 62.Toward this end, one simply releases the pressure that had been appliedand maintained to the sidewall 34 of the trim component 12 asillustrated at action arrow A. Upon release of this pressure, thesidewall 34 springs outward in the direction of action arrow C. At thesame time, the opposed resilient cantilever arms 48, 50 of the springclip 46 which had been pressed apart by the application of pressure onthe sidewall as illustrated by action arrow A in FIGS. 3a and 3b ,spring back together under resilient memory thereby causing the retainerbody 42 to slide in the direction of action arrow D through the receiver36 of the doghouse 30 until the lugs 54, 56 of the stop 52 engage thesecond end 40 of the doghouse 30. See FIGS. 3b, 3c, 4b and 4 c.

At that point, the shank 28 of the locking pin 16 engages the margin 76and the head 26 of the retention pin is captured by a margin of theretainer body 42 extending around and defining the locking aperture. Seeparticularly FIGS. 3c and 4c . Here, it should be appreciated that thebiasing force provided by the spring clip 46 insures that the retainerbody 42 is maintained in this position, effectively locking the trimcomponent 12 to the door inner 14 by means of engagement of the lockingpin 16 with the retainer body.

As should be appreciated, the inserting action IA illustrated in FIG. 3ais in a first direction while the sliding action SA illustrated in FIG.3c is in a second direction wherein the first direction is perpendicularto the second direction. As should be appreciated, this perpendicularorientation of these two actions ensures that the trim component 12 isconnected to the door inner 14 with utmost integrity and functions toprevent separation of the trim component 12 from the door inner 14 inthe event of a side impact to the motor vehicle so equipped.

As should be appreciated from viewing FIG. 3c , when the locking pin 16is fully secured in the retention feature 44 of the retainer body 42,the fastening system 10 is completely concealed by the trim component12. Thus, an uninterrupted aesthetically pleasing appearance ismaintained.

When one desires to remove the trim component 12 from the door inner 14for the purpose of servicing any internal door mechanism, one completesthe steps described above and shown in FIGS. 3a-3c in reverse order.Thus, one depresses the sidewall 34 of the trim component 12 as shown byaction arrow A in FIG. 3a in order to slide the retainer body 42 to theright in the figure and bring the locking aperture 62 into fullalignment with the locking pin 16. One then pulls the trim component 12away from the door inner 14 in a direction opposite to action arrows Bin FIG. 3a . The diameter D₁ of the locking aperture 62 allows for thefree passage of the head 26 of the locking pin 16 and the disconnectionof the trim component 12 from the door inner 14.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,while the fastening system has been described above as a means forsecurely fastening a door trim panel or component to a door inner, itshould be appreciated that the fastening system could certainly be usedfor other applications. Further, it should be appreciated that thelocking pin 16 and the retention feature 44 may assume other shapesadapted to provide the necessary locking action. Thus, for example, thelocking pin 16 may assume any shape, so long as that shape includes anundercut, and the retention feature 44/locking aperture 62 may compriseany shaped aperture adapted to receive the locking pin and engage theundercut when secured in position. All such modifications and variationsare within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted inaccordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally andequitably entitled.

What is claimed:
 1. A fastening system, comprising: a locking pin; atrim component including a sidewall and a doghouse, said doghouseincluding a receiver; and a retainer body held in said receiver, saidretainer body including a retention feature adapted to receive and holdsaid locking pin, and a spring clip at a front end of the retainer bodyreleasably captured between said sidewall and said doghouse.
 2. Thefastening system of claim 1, wherein said spring clip at the front endis spaced from the retention feature.
 3. The fastening system of claim2, wherein said retention feature comprises a locking aperture thatreceives said locking pin.
 4. The fastening system of claim 3, whereinsaid locking aperture has a first diameter D₁.
 5. The fastening systemof claim 4, wherein said spring clip includes a first cantilever arm anda second cantilever arm.
 6. The fastening system of claim 5, whereinsaid retainer body includes a stop at a rear end.
 7. The fasteningsystem of claim 6, wherein said stop engages a first end of saidreceiver.
 8. The fastening system of claim 7, wherein said spring clipengages a second end of said receiver.
 9. The fastening system of claim8, wherein said locking pin includes a seating flange, an anchor end ona support substrate side of said seating flange and a doghouse end on atrim component side of said seating flange.
 10. The fastening system ofclaim 9, wherein said anchor end includes a base.
 11. The fasteningsystem of claim 10, wherein said doghouse end includes a head and ashank wherein said shank is between said head and said seating flange.12. The fastening system of claim 11, wherein said head has a seconddiameter D₂ wherein D₁>D₂.
 13. The fastening system of claim 12, whereinsaid shank has a third diameter D₃ wherein D₁>D₂>D₃.
 14. A method ofsecuring a trim component to a door inner, comprising: securing alocking pin to said door inner; providing a doghouse and a sidewall onsaid trim component; inserting a retainer body into a receiver in saiddoghouse; engaging said locking pin with a retention feature of saidretainer body; and releasably capturing a spring clip of said retainerbody between said sidewall and said doghouse.
 15. The method of claim14, including inserting a head of said locking pin through saidretention feature.
 16. The method of claim 15, including sliding saidretainer body in said receiver so that a shank of said locking pinengages a margin of said retainer body defining said retention feature.17. A method of securing a trim component to a door inner, comprising:securing a locking pin to said door inner; providing a doghouse on saidtrim component; inserting a retainer body into a receiver in saiddoghouse; and engaging said locking pin with a retention feature of saidretainer body by inserting, in a first direction, a head of said lockingpin through said retention feature, sliding, in a second directionperpendicular to said first direction, said retainer body in saidreceiver so that a shank of said locking pin engages a margin of saidretainer body defining said retention feature and capturing said head ofsaid locking pin with the margin of said retainer body defining saidretention feature.